Shaft-coupling



F Io

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN E. MILLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHAFT-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,652, dated August 16, 1881.

Application filed April 11, 1881.

Vand useful Improvement in Shaft-Couplings;

and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to shaft-couplings; and it consists in an improved form, in which, dispensing with all solid rings for uniting the detachable parts of the coupling, and with the complicated constructions heretofore in common use, I construct my coupling of two longitudinal halves, united at the edges by tapered keys or pins passing through intermeshed lugs ou each side of the central bore, in which the ends of the shafts are placed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa perspective view of the Yarious parts of 'my improved coupling` taken apart and laid side by side. Fig. 2 is a side view of the samc put together and coupling two shafts. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sec' tion on .r w, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on 1/ y, Fig. 3, both of the central lugs being on the Lipper half. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on z e, Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My in'iproved coupling is composed of two longitudinal halves, c l), each having` a longitudinal central groove, c, which, when the halves are put together, formthc central bore for containing the ends of the shafts that are to be united. half-round or cylindrical-shaped lug, d, and two halfround or cylindrical-shaped grooves or recesses, e, on one side, and two similar lugs, ff, and one similar groove, g, on the other side. rIhc'lugs dffare counterparts of the grooves g e e, so that when the two halves are placed together, as in Fig. 2, the lugs t nicely within the grooves.

A hole, la, is drilled longitudinally through the lugs on both sides, as shown in Fig. 5, and one end of the coupling is countersunk, as at i, at the end of each hole h, to receive the nut k, which is to be screwed on the end of the pin Z, designed to extendthrough said hole.

The two parts c and b are secured together by the tapered pins or keys l, which are pref- Each half is provided with af (No model.)

erably screw-threaded at their smaller ends,

- and when in place are secured by the nuts 7c,

which, as stated, enter the recesses t', so as not to project beyond the end of the coupling.

The nuts and threads may be dispensed with, and holes may be punched in the ends of the pins and small keys inserted therein to secure them in place; or the pinsmay be plain and be used without fastening devices.

The central bore, c, should be made slightly smaller than the shafts it is designed for use with-say, for instance, one sixty-fourth of an inch less in diameter. This will cause the halves a b, when drawn together by drivingin the tapered keys l, to bite, bind, or clamp upon the shafts mm, and so make a iirm Aand secure coupling; but lo make greater provision against the slipping of the shafts I prefer to make the coupling with dowels or pins a, litting into recesses o, Fig. 3, in the shafts m,- or to make a recess, p, Fig. 4, equally in the shaft and coupling, and insert a key, r, therein. Ifa longer coupling is needed, I increase the number of intermeshing lugs, and in all my couplings the said lugs, extending alternately from opposite sides, are so arranged that the draft shall beon the pin at ea'eh end. The wedge-shaped pins l have sufficient draft to bring the halves snugly together.

The main advantage ot' myinvention is that it can be taken clear oft' of the shafts by simply'loosening the pins, and dispenses with all combining-rings, wedge-collars, and other intricate devices, which cannot be taken oit' except over the ends of the shaft. It is also easy to put on, cheap in construction, simple'in use, and reliable in operation.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire my hand.

JOHN ERNEST MILLER.

' Witnesses:

T. B. KEER, J AMES H. PORTE. 

